Remembering Nicky
 

It’s been three years since we lost him, spare a thought for him and his family today.

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What a great kid he was!

Godspeed, Nicky.

I had the pleasure of meeting him once at Cannery Row. You'd have thought I was his uncle or some such he was so polite and gracious.

Another year has passed, miss you buddy.

Was he a Pelican?

No, a famous motorcycle racer. For my money, the nicest kid in racing.

2005 MotoGP, Laguna Seca:

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Great documentary on Amazon Prime about this 2005 race at Laguna Seca.

Thank you, Java.

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Did he die doing what he loved ?

No, he was in Italy training on his bicycle and was hit by a car.

Thats something we can agree on.

Godspeed Nicky! Gone way to soon.

How is the family doing these days? My thoughts and prayers are with them.

I was at Laguna Seca when Motogp came back to the circuit. Nicky knew the track from riding AMA superbikes and he couldn't be touched that year. Nobody came close. He took the pole, got the hole shot and just ran away.

Honda was running the 5 cylinder bike then and I think Biaggi was Nicky's teammate

Rossi and Edwards were on Yamaha and wearing Camel leathers. Rossi was running in 2nd for more than half the race but Edwards was getting closer every lap. Edwards finally made a block pass into the corkscrew and passed Rossi. Rossi thought about trying to get pass Edwards but a image of both factory Yamahas in the gravel disuaded him and he settled for third spot on the podium.

The year after that Nicky still won but EVERY one else got faster.

The year after that it gets hazy. Maybe Rossi won.

I'm feeling old now. The events are grey. What year did they switch to 800cc and Bridgestone pulled a rabbit out of the hat and Michelin hit the skids and Stoner got the title?

The year Nicky and Rossi were on Ducati I didn't go, but there is a video

Rossi dumps it on the last lap at the top of the corkscrew and Nicky gives him a lift back to the pits

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I was at the Laguna race when Rossi over cooked his bike, I think it was '06. IIRC that's when I met Nicky in Cannery Row. Man it was hot that year. I remember the track selling water for $5 a bottle and then finally just dropping pallets of it for the taking.

It’s now been five years. Seems like just yesterday.